4 quit BJD over denial of ticket

BHUBANESWAR: In a major blow to the ruling BJD, four top leaders of the party, including sitting Lok Sabha member from Kalahandi Arka Keshari Deo and former Paralak-hemundi MLA K Narayan Rao, resigned from the party after being denied tickets to contest in the state Assembly elections starting April 11.

Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh, another sitting Lok Sabha member Kandhamal who was denied ticket this time, threatened to contest as an independent if she was not given ticket to contest from Nayagarh

Assembly seat. “I had given 100 per cent to my constituency. People were quite happy and they wanted me to serve me them for longer time. But I have been denied ticket for Kandhamal seat. I will fight as independent if I’m not given ticket for Nayagarh assembly seat,” said Pratyusha.

Kalahandi MP Arka Keshari said, “My wife and I were called to the Bhubaneswar by the CM to discuss about Lok Sabha seat. He had assured to given ticket to anyone of us. Now, I feel betrayed.”

Firebrand BJD woman leader Kusum Tete of Sundargarh resigned from BJD’s primary membership after being denied party ticket for the ensuing Assembly polls.